Flow-regulator and seed-trap for irrigating-ditches.



' M. T. OTIS.

FLOW REGULATOR AND SEED TRAP FOR IRRIGATINGDITGHES. APPLICATION IILEDAUG. 22, 1911.

1,010,305, 4 Patented Nov. 23; 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

MARION T. OTIS, OF I-IAGERMAN, IDAHO.

FLOW-REGULATOR AND.SEED-TRAP FOR IRRIGATINGr-DITCI-IES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION T. One, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of I-Iagerman, in thecounty of Lincoln and State of Idaho, have invented an ImprovedFlow-Regulator and Seed-Trap for Irrigating-Ditches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improved means for regulating the flow of water inirrigating ditches so that it is practically uniform, and also forpreventing seeds of grass. or weeds floating along with the water andthus out upon the land.

The details of construction and operation of the. invention are ashereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhichv Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, a portion being broken away.

An oblong, rectangular box or trough 1, which may be formed of cement orany other preferred material, is fixed in the ground, preferably abouthalf its depth, and provided at one end with an opening for admission ofwater and a vertically slidable gate 2 for adjusting the size of saidopening as may be required to regulate the inflow from a source ofsupply w exterior to the box. The other or down-stream end of the box isprovided with means for automatically regulating the discharge of waterso that it is practically uniform. The construction and combination ofparts for effecting this are as follows. The box 1 has a verticalpartition 3, another horizontal partition 4, and another horizontalpartition 5. The vertical partition 3 extends down about half the depthof the box and the horizontal partition 4, which joins the same at aright angle, is extended inward from the adjacent end of the box. Thepartition 5, which is parallel to partition 4, is located a shortdistance below it and the two are provided with openings in which isfixed a cylinder 6 that serves as a guide for an elongated cylindricalvalve 7, the latter being vertically adjustable and serving as a conduitthrough which the water passes from the box into the irrigating ditch.

A hollow cylindrical float 8, which is of considerably less diameterthan the valve 7 is arranged in the upper portion thereof, and providedwith a stem 9 which passes Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1911.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Serial No. 645,335.

through an opening in a metal guide 10 that is fixed to the upper end ofthe valve. A clamp-screw 11 is applied at the junction of the parts 9and 10 and serves to secure the float stem at any desired point.

a It is apparent that the buoyant effect of the float 8 is proportionateto its immersion in the water, or, in other words, to its adjustmenthigher or lower in the cylindrical valve 7. As indicated in the drawing,the float when half immersed in the water serves to hold the valve 7raised to nearly the same height as the supply and the body of water ;1held in the box. It is further apparent that the valve will thus riseand fall with the surface of the water at w, y, and thus the overflowfrom the valve will be practically uniform. If, however, it be desiredto increase the amount of overflow, the float 8 is raised still higher,whereby its buoyant effect is decreased, with the result that the valveis lowered and consequently a greater amount of water overflows thesame. By this simple means, that is to say, by the combination of thefloat and valve with the valve guide and means of adjustment, I

of water from a source of supply to a point of delivery, whether it beused. for irrigating or other purposes.

While the box 1 with its partitions 3, 4, 5, may be constructed ofcement, the valve, valve guide, and float are preferably constructed ofwood or metal.

In addition to the functions above deseeds of grass, weeds, or otherplants which may flow along with the water delivered into the box. Thegravity of the seeds carries them to the bottom of the box where theyare deposited and prevented from flowing along in the current passing upthrough the cylindrical valve 7. The box or trough 1 being open at thetop, the seeds may be readily removed whenever required.

' What I claim is 1. The improved flow regulator, comprising a boxhaving at its discharge end a horizontal partition provided with anopening and having a vertical guide fixed therein, a tubular valveadapted to slide in said guide, and a float connected with the valve andadapted to project into the same, as

and for the purpose specified.

provide a very simple yet automatic and reliable regulator for governingthe flow scribed, the box l serves as a trap for the 2. The improvedflow regulator, comprising a box having at its discharge end a partitionprovided with an opening, a tubular valve adapted to slide vertically inthe opening, a float made of less diameter than the valve and adaptedfor insertion therein, and means for holding the float in adjustablerelation to the valve as required to regulate the height of the valveand thus govern the rate of overflow, substantially as described.

3..In a flow regulator, the combination with a box having a horizontalpartition arranged at its discharge end and provided with an opening, ahollow open-ended valve adapted to slide vertically in said opening afloat of less diameter which projects into the valve more or less, andmeans for adj ustably connecting it with the valve, whereby it may beraised or lowered according to the amount of water to be discharged fromthe box, substantially as described.

4. In a flow regulator, the combination of a box for receiving water,the same having at its discharge end two parallel horizontal partitionsseparated vertically and provided with coincident openings, acylindrical guide held in said openings and thus connecting the twopartitions, a cylindrical valve adapted to slide vertically in saidguide, a cylindrical float arranged in the upper portion of the valveand adapted for vertical adjustment therein, and means for supportingand holding the float at different heights relative to the valve,substantially as described. MARION T. OTIS.

WVitnesses: V

ELMER C0011,

LYDIA Coon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

